Motor insurance - new driver 21 October 2022 at 5:05PM edited 24 October 2022 at 12:40PM in Insurance & life assurance 8 replies 211 views

ryan7

My wife has recently passed her driving test. She's currently on my insurance as a provisional driver. To amend her to a full UK licenced driver is going to cost and additional £50 a month!

She is In the process of getting her first car. 
If she takes out fully comp insurance on her own vehicle, will that give her the cover to drive my car also without the need to update my policy? 

Thanks 

tightauldgit

it should give her coverage but generally only third party I believe for driving other vehicles. its not a given though so you should check the specific policy before you buy. 

Archie_Duke

Third Party cover for “Driving other Cars - DOC” is definitely less common than it once was. Don’t assume and check the policy exclusions line-by-line.

ryan7

Yes, thanks for reminding me that fully comp doesn't always cover driving other motors.

A fifty quid hike in my policy seems ridiculous when she's unlikely to drive the car. 
Her own policy should be adequate enough I hope. 

[Deleted User]

Either add her as a named driver or find a policy that will offer it. Remember that it'll almost certainly be third party cover only so if she crashes you'll be stuffed

MalMonroe

Hi, to be honest I don't think an additional £50 per month is a lot to add someone who is a brand new driver to your insurance policy.

If your wife gets her own insurance she'll probably have to pay more as well because of being a new driver. She won't be able to get any no claims discount either. 

But if she's unlikely to drive your car then your wife's better off just getting her own insurance.  

As others have said, policies do differ and it's always best to read everything in them. I'm allowed to drive others' cars with their permission but it's only third party cover.  Yet my friend's fully comp insurance doesn't allow her to drive anyone else's car at all. 

With any new driver, with respect, I'd want to ensure that they were insured up to the eyeballs. Whatever the cost.

400ixl

If it is unlikely she will need to drive yours then there are companies that do on top insurance for X miles or Y time that you could use should the need arrive.

Aretnap

Archie_Duke said:

Third Party cover for “Driving other Cars - DOC” is definitely less common than it once was. Don’t assume and check the policy exclusions line-by-line.

Additionally, even insurers who normally include it as standard will not always do so for young/newly qualified drivers.

Check there is not an exclusion for driving a car owned by a spouse (or other close relative).

It will be third party cover only; whether that is a problem depends on various things, including whether you drive a brand new Audi or a £500 old banger which you're happy to shrug at if it gets damaged.

(A few premium insurers like Hiscox and Chubb do offer driving other cars cover on a comprehensive basis, but if you're trying to save a few quid a month you're not really their target market...)

DullGreyGuy

Aretnap said:
(A few premium insurers like Hiscox and Chubb do offer driving other cars cover on a comprehensive basis, but if you're trying to save a few quid a month you're not really their target market...)

Hiscox is also an any driver policy, though undoubtably has a minimum period that the full  license has been held.

Last time I looked you had to be a full fat Hiscox customer to be able to quote, their (relatively speaking) standard home insurance offering wasnt sufficient to get you access. I did once manage to get a quote out of curiosity and was suprised that it was "only" about 30% more than the lower end of regular providers.